Only son of President Muhammadu Buhari, Yusuf, was, on Tuesday night, involved in a bike accident in Abuja.
He was said to have sustained a head injury and had one of his limbs broken.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, confirmed the crash in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.
Shehu said Yusuf had undergone successful surgery and was in a stable condition.
The statement read, “Yusuf Buhari had a bike accident last night around Gwarimpa in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
“He broke a limb and had an injury to the head as a result. He has undergone surgery at a clinic in Abuja. He is in a stable condition.
“The President and his wife, Mrs. Aisha Muhammadu Buhari, are thankful to Nigerians for the good wishes and prayers for their son.”
It was gathered that Yusuf was racing on a power bike with his friends when the accident occurred on Tuesday night.
It was also learnt that he was rushed to the Cedar Crest Hospital in Gudu District, Abuja, where surgery was performed on him.
When one of our correspondents visited the hospital at about 2pm on Wednesday, policemen and officers of the Department of State Services stood watch at the hospital.
The correspondent counted four Toyota Hilux vehicles belonging to the security personnel, parked around the premises.
Although the security officials were not willing to talk, a relation of a patient in the hospital, who gave his name only as Abubakar, said top government officials had been visiting the President’s son since Wednesday morning.
“The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, was here. The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai, also visited the hospital. Many other dignitaries whose identities were unknown have visited.
“My father is a patient here. He is to undergo amputation and replacement of his leg. We have been billed N3.5m.” Abubakar said.
The PUNCH observed three Hilux vans and two Toyota Prado vehicles driving onto the premises at the exact time of this visit. One of them was a Federal Government vehicle, with number plate 21B FG04.
Visitors were not allowed onto the premises as three riot policemen stood at the entrance to screen the entrants.
It was gathered that more government dignitaries were still being expected at the hospital which is isolated on that street.
Buhari’s son’s crash not reported to police, FRSC
Meanwhile, Yusuf’s crash was not reported to the police or the Federal Road Safety Corps for investigation, checks on Wednesday by one of our correspondents revealed.
Investigations indicated that the police and the FRSC were not aware of the crash in which Yusuf suffered head injuries and fractures.
It was learnt that the two security agencies, which are statutorily empowered to investigate road accidents and sanction traffic law violators, might not be able to determine the cause of the crash because they had no record of it.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Public Relations Officer, Anjuguri Manzah, said he was not aware of the incident when asked on Wednesday.
He was asked to find out from the division where the accident occurred, but he did not respond to subsequent calls.
The FRSC spokesman, Bisi Kazeem, simply referred one of our correspondents to the statement by the Presidency on the incident.
“Check the statement from the Presidency; it is self-explanatory,” he said on the phone when asked if the accident was reported to the corps.
Saraki prays for Buhari’s son
Also, Senate President Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday, prayed for a quick recovery for Yusuf, who was involved in a bike accident in Abuja.
Saraki, in a tweet on his Twitter handle, expressed his sympathy over the accident.
It read, “May the Almighty grant Yusuf Buhari a quick and full recovery. My prayers are with President Buhari and his family at this time.”
Courtesy: ThePunchng.com
